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Whole Foods Market: Strategic Reveiw

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THE EXCELLENT CONSULTING GROUP

Communication from Art Epance:

Welcome to this project. ABC Company and Whole Foods Market expect us to provide them with top-notch advice on how to integrate Whole Foods into ABC Company. I will be working on analyzing ABC Company. You will be working on analyzing Whole Foods Market. Review as much information as you can on the Whole Foods Market website, particularly that in the "Investor Relations" section. At a minimum, review the following materials in preparation for your report/analysis:

Required Reading

Reuters Company Profile: Whole Foods Market. Retrieved on November 7, 2012 from:http://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/companyProfile?symbol=WFM.O

Case study: http://pnphillip.asp.radford.edu/whole%20Foods%20Case.pdf (be sure that you do not rely on this document as your primary source of information, but be sure that you have synthesized information from multiple sources). Retrieved on November 7, 2012 from: http://tainted-ink.net/archives/102.

Article: Business Analysis: Whole Foods Market Retrieved on November 7, 2012 (again, do not rely on this document as a primary source of information, but be sure that you have synthesized information from multiple sources).

Whole Foods Market website: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/ Retrieved on November 7, 2012.
Whole Foods Market (about the company) Whole Foods Market Retrieved on November 7, 2012 from: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/company-info.

Whole Foods Market - Annual Stakeholders Report, 2011. Retrieved on November 7, 2012 from:http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/company-info/investor-relations/annual-reports.

Review Case Analysis since it is so important in this final course. The purpose of a Case is to show that you have thought critically about the subject matter that you are learning and to make an argument for a Claim about the specific situation in the Case Assignment. Stephen Toulmin has developed an Argument Methodology that is very useful in Making a Case. To review Case Analysis and Toulmin's Argument Methodology, go to Making a
Case page.

Case Assignment

First, you need to do a strategic analysis of Whole Foods Market. The executives want us to provide an independent, objective view of Whole Foods Market's current strategic position, including full information of Whole Foods Market's mission, vision and values. They want to identify its current set of strategic goals, and a critical assessment of the competition and the competitive environment (remote and operating environments). Also, they want to see the opportunities and threats Whole Foods is presently facing, and they need a general idea of the company's strengths and weaknesses. Whole Foods Market and ABC Company want to know if we think they should make any strategic changes or continue with the status quo. Synthesize everything you have learned, provide a final recommendation, and justify your reasoning.

Keys to the Assignment:
1. Do diligent research on Whole Foods Market. I have included links to various websites above.
2. As an MBA, you must perform additional research to find information on competition and general trends for opportunities and threats. For the competitive analysis, identify a minimum of three of the top competitive companies and their best-selling services or products - and justify why each is a viable competitor.
3. Your report should be thorough, and follow closely the outline that I have given you. The final section is the most important one. Use excellent logic and sharp argumentation skills to make your case.

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Solution Summary

Strategic Review of Whole Foods Market is explained in a structured manner in this response. The answer includes references used.

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In compliance with BrainMass rules this is not a hand in ready paper but is only guidance.

Current Strategic Position: The current strategic position of Whole Foods Market is strong. Since, 2002 it has focused on opening its own large stores. Many of these are 50,000 sq feet and above instead of acquiring small chain stores. Whole Foods Market has excellent human resources. Its employees are well trained, knowledgeable, and experience in the grocery industry. The pay and benefits are attractive and they receive excellent training. Whole Foods Market has developed a reputation for high quality standards and customers are guaranteed 100 percent satisfaction. Whole Foods Market also has a strong financial position. Its sales revenues have increased from $10.1 billion in 2011 to $14.1 billion in 2014. Also, during this period the net income has increased from $342 million to $579 million.

Mission, Vision & Values:
The Whole Foods Market's vision is "Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet" the explanation says that it seeks to support the health, well-being, and healing of customers (1). Also, Whole Planet implies that Whole Foods Market is likely to have its operations spread to all over the world. This is a commitment to growth. Its mission is:"to set the standards of excellence for food retailers" (3). Whole Foods Market has followed its mission by setting higher standards for its own products than what is required by the law. The result is better quality standards. Whole Foods Market also has a list of values: "We Serve And Support Our Local And Global Communities, We Sell The Highest Quality Natural And Organic Products Available, We Satisfy, Delight And Nourish Our Customers, We Support Team Member Excellence And Happiness, We Create Wealth Through Profits & Growth, We Practice And Advance Environmental Stewardship, We Create Ongoing Win-Win Partnerships With Our Suppliers, And We Promote The Health Of Our Stakeholders Through Healthy Eating Education" (2). The values address different stakeholder groups. For example, team member excellence and happiness addresses the concerns of employees. Similarly, "wealth through profits & growth" addresses the concerns of shareholders.
The current strategic goals of Whole Foods Market are to increase the number of its ...

Solution provided by:
Hatim Baxamusa, MBA
Education
  • BSc , University of Calcutta
  • MBA, Eastern Institute for Integrated Learning in Management
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